Abstract: In an X-ray radiation source, a counter wall made of alkali-containing glass, out of walls of a housing of an X-ray tube, is arranged opposite to a high-voltage region VH of a power supply unit including a high-voltage generation module which generates a negative high voltage to be applied to a filament. This configuration prevents an electric field from being generated in the counter wall and thus suppresses precipitation of alkali ions from the glass. Therefore, it prevents change in potential relationship between electrodes at different potentials such as the filament, grid, and target and prevents occurrence of a trouble of failure in maintaining a desired X-ray amount, thus enabling stable operation to be maintained.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a differentiation marker and a differentiation controlling technique for an eye cell. More particularly, the present invention has attained an object of providing a differentiation marker for an eye cell among the aforementioned problems, by providing a marker for identifying a cell having a high proliferation ability among corneal endothelial cells and/or the differentiation ability of a corneal endothelial cell, the marker comprising GPR49/LGR5, as well as a detection agent or detection method for identifying a cell having a high proliferation ability among corneal endothelial cells and/or the differentiation ability of a corneal endothelial cell, comprising a substance binding to GPR49/LGR5. In addition, the present invention has attained an object of providing a differentiation controlling technique for an eye cell, by providing an agent for suppressing differentiation and/or promoting proliferation of an eye cell, comprising R-spondins.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of culturing corneal endothelial cells. More specifically, the present invention provides a composition for culturing or growing corneal endothelial cells, comprising at least one agent consisting of laminins and fragments thereof which express in corneal endothelial cells. Specifically, the present invention can comprise laminin 511 (alpha5 beta1 gamma1) and laminin 512 (alpha5 beta2 gamma 1). The present invention further provides a culture container for corneal endothelial cells, which is coated with the composition of the present invention. Furthermore, the present invention provides a method for culturing corneal endothelial cells comprising the step of using the composition or the container of the present invention to culture the corneal endothelial cells.

Abstract: Provided is an agent for treating or preventing a corneal endothelial disorder wherein cell proliferation is required. More specifically, provided is an agent for treating or preventing a corneal endothelial disorder, wherein cell proliferation is required, said agent comprising a p38MAP kinase inhibitor. In a preferred embodiment, the corneal endothelial disorder is a wound. In a preferred embodiment, the p38MAP kinase inhibitor is soluble in water. The p38MAP kinase inhibitor may comprise 4-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(4-methylsulfinylphenyl)-1H-imidazole-5-yl]pyridine (SB203580) or a salt thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides an agent for treating or preventing a disease, a disorder or a condition of a corneal endothelium, said agent comprising a corneal endothelial cell and a myosin II-specific inhibitor. More specifically, the myosin II-specific inhibitor is blebbistatin. The disease, the disorder or the condition is typically a disorder associated with Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy or corneal endothelial dysfunction (bullous keratopathy). Also provided is a method for treating or preventing a corneal endothelial disease, said method comprising a step of administering an effective amount of a myosin II-specific inhibitor together with a corneal endothelial cell to a subject.

Abstract: The present invention provides a treatment drug or prophylactic drug for diseases, disorders, or conditions related to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Specifically, the present invention provides a treatment drug or prophylactic drug for diseases, disorders, or conditions related to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in the corneal epithelium, the drug containing a TGF?-signal inhibitor. As a preferred TGF?-signal inhibitor, the drug contains 4-[4-(1,3-benzodioxole-5-yl)-5-(2-pyridinyl)-1H-imidazole-2-yl]benzamide.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method of purification and preparation of cultured corneal endothelial cells, and in particular, to provide cell surface markers for use in corneal endothelial cells not including transformed cells. Provided are cell markers for distinguishing normal cells and transformed cells, in particular normal and transformed corneal endothelium cells. These cell markers relate to specific cell surface markers, for example, to a normal corneal endothelial surface marker such as CD166, and a transformed cell surface marker such as CD73. By using the transformed cell surface marker such as CD73 to remove transformed cells by sorting, it becomes possible to improve purity of a normal cultured corneal endothelium. By using normal corneal endothelial surface marker such as CD166, or by combined use with the transformed cell surface marker, it becomes possible to provide a means for verifying the purity of a prepared corneal endothelium.

Abstract: An X-ray radiation device comprises a plurality of X-ray radiation units, each having an X-ray tube for generating an X-ray, a drive circuit for driving the X-ray tube, and a trunk line connected to the drive circuit, and a controller having a control circuit for controlling the X-ray radiation units. The trunk lines of the plurality of X-ray radiation units are connected in series to the control circuit so that the drive circuits of the plurality of X-ray radiation units are connected in parallel to the control circuit. Since the trunk lines of the plurality of X-ray radiation units are connected in series to the control circuit, the X-ray radiation units can be connected to each other and are not required to be connected one by one to the controller. This makes it possible to increase and decrease the number of units without complicating their wiring.

Abstract: The present invention provides medicaments for treating or preventing a disease, disorder, or condition associated with extracellular matrix (ECM) abnormality in a corneal endothelium, wherein the medicaments comprise a TGF-beta signal inhibiting agent. More specifically, this disease, disorder, or condition is a disorder associated with Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy. Such a disorder includes photophobia, blurred vision, vision disorder, eye pain, lacrimation, hyperemia, pain, bullous keratopathy, ophthalmic unpleasantness, a decrease in contrast, glare, edema in corneal stroma, bullous keratopathy, corneal opacity, and the like. A preferable TGF-beta signal inhibiting agent includes 4-[4-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-5-(2-pyridinyl)-1H-imidazol-2-yl]benzamide.

Abstract: In an X-ray radiation source, a lid part is fastened to a main part with screws, so that an X-ray tube is secured to a housing while being pressed against an inner surface of the wall part a by a first circuit board. The X-ray tube can be secured stably within the housing by thus being held between the first circuit board and the wall part. The X-ray radiation source uses the first circuit board incorporated in the housing itself for pressing the X-ray tube. This makes it unnecessary to provide new members for pressing the X-ray tube and can prevent the device structure from becoming complicated.

Abstract: [Problem] To provide a method for producing human corneal epithelial sheet, wherein the human corneal epithelial-derived cells obtained by culturing human corneal epithelial cells are cultured on an amnion substrate. [Solution] A method for culturing human corneal epithelial cells using mesenchymal stem cells as the feeder cells; and a method for culturing human corneal epithelial cells using a medium containing a ROCK inhibitor, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, a MAP kinase inhibitor and a TGF-? receptor inhibitor in various combinations.

Abstract: In an X-ray radiation source, a counter wall made of alkali-containing glass, out of walls of a housing of an X-ray tube, is arranged opposite to a high-voltage region VH of a power supply unit including a high-voltage generation module which generates a negative high voltage to be applied to a filament. This configuration prevents an electric field from being generated in the counter wall and thus suppresses precipitation of alkali ions from the glass. Therefore, it prevents change in potential relationship between electrodes at different potentials such as the filament, grid, and target and prevents occurrence of a trouble of failure in maintaining a desired X-ray amount, thus enabling stable operation to be maintained.

Abstract: In an X-ray radiation source, a counter wall made of alkali-containing glass, out of walls of a housing of an X-ray tube, is sandwiched between a filament and an electric field control electrode to each of which a negative high voltage is applied. This configuration prevents an electric field from being generated in the counter wall and thus suppresses precipitation of alkali ions from the glass. Therefore, it prevents change in potential relationship between electrodes at different potentials such as the filament, grid, and target and enables stable operation to be maintained, without occurrence of a trouble of failure in maintaining a desired X-ray amount.

Abstract: [Problem] To provide, in order to manufacture cells to transplant into patients with corneal endothelial failure, a medium used to culture corneal endothelial cells obtained from human corneal tissue and grow said cells while maintaining the morphology thereof as corneal endothelial cells. [Solution] A medium containing a conditioned medium from mesenchymal stem cells; and a method in which said medium is used to culture corneal endothelial cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a differentiation marker and a differentiation controlling technique for an eye cell. More particularly, the present invention has attained an object of providing a differentiation marker for an eye cell among the aforementioned problems, by providing a marker for identifying a cell having a high proliferation ability among corneal endothelial cells and/or the differentiation ability of a corneal endothelial cell, the marker comprising GPR49/LGR5, as well as a detection agent or detection method for identifying a cell having a high proliferation ability among corneal endothelial cells and/or the differentiation ability of a corneal endothelial cell, comprising a substance binding to GPR49/LGR5. In addition, the present invention has attained an object of providing a differentiation controlling technique for an eye cell, by providing an agent for suppressing differentiation and/or promoting proliferation of an eye cell, comprising R-spondins.

Abstract: In an X-ray radiation source, a lid part is fastened to a main part with screws, so that an X-ray tube is secured to a housing while being pressed against an inner surface of the wall part a by a first circuit board. The X-ray tube can be secured stably within the housing by thus being held between the first circuit board and the wall part. The X-ray radiation source uses the first circuit board incorporated in the housing itself for pressing the X-ray tube. This makes it unnecessary to provide new members for pressing the X-ray tube and can prevent the device structure from becoming complicated.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the normalized culturing of corneal endothelial cells. More specifically, the present invention provides a culture-normalizing-agent of a corneal endothelial cell, comprising a fibrosis inhibitor. In detail, the present invention provides a culture-normalizing agent comprising a transforming growth factor (TGF) ? signal inhibitor. The present invention also provides a culture medium for culturing a corneal endothelial cell normally, which comprises the culture-normalizing agent according to the present invention and corneal endothelium culture components. The present invention also provides a method for culturing a corneal endothelial cell normally, comprising the step of culturing a corneal endothelial cell using the culture-normalizing agent according to the present invention or the culture medium according to the present invention.

Abstract: An X-ray radiation device comprises a plurality of X-ray radiation units, each having an X-ray tube for generating an X-ray, a drive circuit for driving the X-ray tube, and a trunk line connected to the drive circuit, and a controller having a control circuit for controlling the X-ray radiation units. The trunk lines of the plurality of X-ray radiation units are connected in series to the control circuit so that the drive circuits of the plurality of X-ray radiation units are connected in parallel to the control circuit. Since the trunk lines of the plurality of X-ray radiation units are connected in series to the control circuit, the X-ray radiation units can be connected to each other and are not required to be connected one by one to the controller. This makes it possible to increase and decrease the number of units without complicating their wiring.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a corneal endothelium cell proliferation accelerator and a therapeutic agent for a disease relating to corneal endothelium damage, which are administered into the anterior chamber. bFGF is released in a sustained manner by forming bFGF sustained-release gelatin hydrogel particles wherein bFGF is carried on gelatin hydrogel. Therefore, the proliferation of corneal endothelium cells can be accelerated persistently by administration of a preparation containing the bFGF sustained-release gelatin hydrogel particles into the anterior chamber, and diseases relating to corneal endothelium damage can be treated.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a corneal endothelium cell proliferation accelerator and a therapeutic agent for a disease relating to corneal endothelium damage, which are administered into the anterior chamber. bFGF is released in a sustained manner by forming bFGF sustained-release gelatin hydrogel particles wherein bFGF is carried on gelatin hydrogel. Therefore, the proliferation of corneal endothelium cells can be accelerated persistently by administration of a preparation containing the bFGF sustained-release gelatin hydrogel particles into the anterior chamber, and diseases relating to corneal endothelium damage can be treated.